In June, a conference on Artificial Intelligence and
Interactive Digital Entertainment (AIIDE) in Marina del Rey
attracted specialists in the two disciplines from all over the
country — and half of them came to visit ISI.

To use ISI's proximity to the conference to raise
awareness of the Institute's resources in the field of AI, the
Intelligent Systems Division held two open houses.

In addition to one that brought 30 of the 60 attendees of the
AIIDE conference
goers to ISI, a second effort attracted AI and IM experts
from
industry and educational institutions in the area, according
to ISD director Yigal Arens.

The open houses
showcased ISD research, staff and students using a
series of
overview talks, demos and printed material.

Setting up the open house events was a major effort that
involved:
* identifying and organizing the research projects to be
shown
* making contact with the invited guests and
organizations,
* arranging for transportation (AIIDE attendees were
shuttled over
from their hotel),
* ordering and setting up food and beverages,
* serving the food,
* cleaning up,
and more.

"Recipients of the awards worked very hard to put these two
events
together, doing much more than their normal jobs demand,"
Schorr said. "As a result
of their effort many current and potential colleagues and
contacts
have a favorable view of ISD and ISI in general and a better
appreciation of what we do."

"I'm really grateful to those who spent so much of their time
setting up these open houses," said Arens. "We often
complain that some people are still not fully aware of how
excellent an institution ISI is. Events like these are an
important way to rectify this situation."